When I needed to replace my cheap wireless system recently, I decided to purchase one of the major brands that uses TV whitespace frequencies. Those three were Audio-Technica ATW-3255, Sennheiser G4, and Shure PSM900. Plus, Sweetwater carries all three which made comparison easier.
The anxiety I felt in the beginning was which band version do I purchase that would work in my normal area where I gig.
Shure and Sennheiser splits their product into three versions. Each one covering a subset of the TW whitespace band. Here in the USA, that band is largely 470mhz to 608mhz. The ATW-3255 covers the entire range, but the receiver is plastic.
Anxiety generally sets in when there is not a good process. I didn't have big budget either. So winging it was not going to work.
The first step I did was learn a reasonable amount of knowledge of the frequency range. Found out the FCC tried to take away the T-band for auction which is 470-500mgz range, but shelved that in 2021.
Since I felt there was a risk in the FCC restarting this, the Sennheiser A1 band, and Shure's G6 band dropped off my list which primarily covers that range only. The pricing of the remaining Shure PSM900 systems caused me to drop Shure off the list completely.
This left the ATW-3255, and the Sennheiser G4 A band and G band systems. I preferred the Sennheiser for the metal receiver body.
Next I surveyed Shure's frequency finder webpage and the corresponding one for Sennheiser. It was clear that both had generalized channel availability, not necessary my location. So I did what all bean counters do for their anxiety or addiction which is to create a spreadsheet. I've attached that here.
The columns are:
Channel number (TV),
Station Call sign or available if no station
Station transmitter location
Station transmit power
Station Start Frequency
Station End Frequency
Station transmitter location GPS coordinates (you'll see why)
I used Shure's information on their frequency finder webpage for a start. Then obtained a list of TV stations that operate in the bay area.
Next I used Wikipedia to get the station transmitter location, power, and GPS coordinates. I could have obtained this from the FCC online database, but I found Wiki was quicker.
The start and end frequencies are just cell formulas since the FCC assigns frequencies for TV stations in a repeating pattern.
This showed me there are 3 available channels in the T-Band range (470-500Mhz). Darn, that dreaded possible auction down the road again. I have disdain for the government.
There were two available channels in the next range which is Sennheiser A band 516-558Mhz, and one available channel for their G band (566-608Mhz). It should be two since there is not a VLBA installation near me, and the closest one is about 600 miles away (Owens Valley, CA for me). I found out that TV channel 37 is reserved for radio astronomy, and the VLBA radio telescopes is using that frequency range. There are only 10 total, and 8 within the continental US. You can search for very long baseline array to know me. More impracticality from the government, imo.
Next I plugged in the transmitter locations in Google Earth, and pinned the locations of where I gig. This enabled me to get a view on distance and topology. I didn't have any "over the air" TV experience in quite a few decades. It's been all cable, and in the past three years, none at all.
What I surmised from Google Earth was it's unlikely any TV station could reach about 90% of my gig locations. Most of those locations are in the southern end of Santa Clara county in surrounding by mountains or large hills with no direct line of sight to any transmitter.
In fact, the powerful transmitters are all in SF city which is the furtherest location from my gigs. The closer transmitters are all low power stations. The T-band looked like the best bet, but because of the T-band auction being revived in the future, I put the Sennheiser down to #2 on my list with the ATW-3255 as #1.
Shot off an email to my SW rep inquiring on the durability of the plastic receiver. He asked those that use it in SW and replied back they said it's durable and there should be an issue. Since it was T-band auction proof and about $200 dollars cheaper, I bought it.
Now that I've been using and testing it for a week, I've found out that none of the TV stations reach most of my gigging areas. The anxiety was basically for nothing. If I gig in the main bay area, I won't be with the wrong band version. In fact, anywhere in the USA, the ATW-3255 will work.
The bigger issue for me turns out to be other wireless devices in the whitespace where I gig. So I recommend surveying what is being used in the places you gig before purchasing. These are locations using wireless for mics, etc., but require you to bring your own wireless gear if you want wireless IEM.
I hope this is informative not just long.
The anxiety I felt in the beginning was which band version do I purchase that would work in my normal area where I gig.
Shure and Sennheiser splits their product into three versions. Each one covering a subset of the TW whitespace band. Here in the USA, that band is largely 470mhz to 608mhz. The ATW-3255 covers the entire range, but the receiver is plastic.
Anxiety generally sets in when there is not a good process. I didn't have big budget either. So winging it was not going to work.
The first step I did was learn a reasonable amount of knowledge of the frequency range. Found out the FCC tried to take away the T-band for auction which is 470-500mgz range, but shelved that in 2021.
Since I felt there was a risk in the FCC restarting this, the Sennheiser A1 band, and Shure's G6 band dropped off my list which primarily covers that range only. The pricing of the remaining Shure PSM900 systems caused me to drop Shure off the list completely.
This left the ATW-3255, and the Sennheiser G4 A band and G band systems. I preferred the Sennheiser for the metal receiver body.
Next I surveyed Shure's frequency finder webpage and the corresponding one for Sennheiser. It was clear that both had generalized channel availability, not necessary my location. So I did what all bean counters do for their anxiety or addiction which is to create a spreadsheet. I've attached that here.
The columns are:
Channel number (TV),
Station Call sign or available if no station
Station transmitter location
Station transmit power
Station Start Frequency
Station End Frequency
Station transmitter location GPS coordinates (you'll see why)
I used Shure's information on their frequency finder webpage for a start. Then obtained a list of TV stations that operate in the bay area.
Next I used Wikipedia to get the station transmitter location, power, and GPS coordinates. I could have obtained this from the FCC online database, but I found Wiki was quicker.
The start and end frequencies are just cell formulas since the FCC assigns frequencies for TV stations in a repeating pattern.
This showed me there are 3 available channels in the T-Band range (470-500Mhz). Darn, that dreaded possible auction down the road again. I have disdain for the government.
There were two available channels in the next range which is Sennheiser A band 516-558Mhz, and one available channel for their G band (566-608Mhz). It should be two since there is not a VLBA installation near me, and the closest one is about 600 miles away (Owens Valley, CA for me). I found out that TV channel 37 is reserved for radio astronomy, and the VLBA radio telescopes is using that frequency range. There are only 10 total, and 8 within the continental US. You can search for very long baseline array to know me. More impracticality from the government, imo.
Next I plugged in the transmitter locations in Google Earth, and pinned the locations of where I gig. This enabled me to get a view on distance and topology. I didn't have any "over the air" TV experience in quite a few decades. It's been all cable, and in the past three years, none at all.
What I surmised from Google Earth was it's unlikely any TV station could reach about 90% of my gig locations. Most of those locations are in the southern end of Santa Clara county in surrounding by mountains or large hills with no direct line of sight to any transmitter.
In fact, the powerful transmitters are all in SF city which is the furtherest location from my gigs. The closer transmitters are all low power stations. The T-band looked like the best bet, but because of the T-band auction being revived in the future, I put the Sennheiser down to #2 on my list with the ATW-3255 as #1.
Shot off an email to my SW rep inquiring on the durability of the plastic receiver. He asked those that use it in SW and replied back they said it's durable and there should be an issue. Since it was T-band auction proof and about $200 dollars cheaper, I bought it.
Now that I've been using and testing it for a week, I've found out that none of the TV stations reach most of my gigging areas. The anxiety was basically for nothing. If I gig in the main bay area, I won't be with the wrong band version. In fact, anywhere in the USA, the ATW-3255 will work.
The bigger issue for me turns out to be other wireless devices in the whitespace where I gig. So I recommend surveying what is being used in the places you gig before purchasing. These are locations using wireless for mics, etc., but require you to bring your own wireless gear if you want wireless IEM.
I hope this is informative not just long.
